Introduction: DuraSafe
is probably not a brand that anglers typically associate on a daily basis with
fishing but for many watercraft owners this company makes the one piece of kit
that they use each and every time they tow their boat. This family owned company
has continued to gain popularity since 2003, making an assortment of locks and
towing devices designed to solve challenges and make it faster and more
enjoyable for customers to experience the outdoor sports they love. One of their
signature products are the innovative BOLT (Breakthrough
One-Key Lock Technology) locks which we take a closer look at in this review.

Impressions:
Two years ago we reviewed DuraSafe’s Coupler Connect trailer accessory and found
the product to be both innovative and easy to deploy. That product basically
addressed the common problem of how to safely and easily back up your truck into
position under your trailer hitch and provide and an extra failsafe for loose
trailers and safer overall towing, as well as some extra security. Addressing
everyday challenges like this are what Durasafe is all about, and with the BOLT
lock series they offer yet another solution to a common problem, this time with
an assortment of codeable locks.

DuraSafe offers a wide range of locks
under their innovative BOLT Series

If you own a
boat you probably have a keychain chock full of keys which is not only
cumbersome to carry around all day but can be annoying when you need that one
key early in the morning or after dark to unlock your trailer or change out your
hitch accessories. Durasafe’s BOLT series offers a complete range of locks
including receiver locks, swing away trailer tongue locks, cable locks and good
old fashioned padlocks, and they are all designed all be opened by a single key,
your own car key. DuraSafe BOLT locks are described by the company as the
“World’s First Codeable Locks,” and are specifically programmed to match vehicle
keys.

So just what makes these locks so
innovative? How about the fact they can be coded to your own vehicle key

In terms of
styling the BOLT locks are very identifiable and feature a black and red motif
that is in keeping with the company’s bold logo design. These locks are larger
than traditional locks dimensionally but do feel more rugged thanks to a rubber
outer layer that surround the entire locking mechanism. For our first look at
the DuraSafe BOLT Series we survey both the codeable receiver and padlock
products, both of which are likely to be used by both watercraft owners and
outdoor enthusiasts. The receiver locks are available in both 5/8 (class III
and IV) and ˝” (class II) varieties to address general towing or holding
accessories like equipment racks.

The BOLT receiver lock comes
sealed and is ready to be coded

Real World
Tests:
To test the BOLT Series we received two locks directly from Durasafe which we
coded with a Ford dummy key and procured another four from Tackle Warehouse
which we employed on a Jeep Rubicon for holding accessories like steps and tow
hooks as well as on my primary tow vehicle, a Ford F150 Raptor. The tests
covered everything from the initial coding of the locks to weather stress tests
and also encompassed normal use over two complete seasons.

Coding the lock is as easy as
inserting your key and rotating

Operation:
Once you buy the lock that is designed for your vehicle make the programming of
the lock is as easy as turning the key. Each lock ships with a rubber gasket
over the shutter. Simply peel this off and insert your key and turn. Inside the
automotive grade lock cylinder are spring loaded plate tumblers that will move
until they perfectly align to your inserted key. As you rotate your key the code
bar will press on the tumblers which will permanently match to your key. Note
that this coding is permanent and the minute you key that lock it is matched for
life, and cannot be reset. This six plate tumbler is designed to be very secure
and nearly impossible to lockpick, and as we don’t have any professional
lockpickers on staff we just had to take the company’s word on this one.

The BOLT lock is now ready to use
and you don't need to carry an extra key

The shutter on
both the receiver lock and padlock are designed to be weather resistant and
slide to the closed position the second the key is removed. The receiver lock is
cylindrical in shape and has an extra rubber cap attached which provides yet
another layer of protection from the elements. To really stress these locks and
simulate long term abuse we torture tested the locks and did everything from
drop these locks three stories, bury them in sand and even submerged and froze
them. Through it all the BOLT locks shrugged all the abuse without breaking a
sweat and continued to perform perfectly.

We dropped this lock from a two
story building, buried it in sand and even submerged and froze it